The parties of the former world champion in two categories, American Shakur Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) and Japanese Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0, 12 KOs) are close to concluding an agreement on holding a duel for the title of official contender for the WBC world lightweight title (up to 61.2 kg) on April 8. At the same time, the venue for the fight has not yet been finalized.
The reviewer reports
ESPN Mike Coppinger.
Recall that for Stevenson this will be his debut performance in the lightweight category. Earlier, the WBC appointed his fight against the Mexican Isaac Cruz as a candidate, but he decided to go the other way. The next two applicants, William Zepeda and George Kambosos, also refused.
And so they came to the candidacy of Yoshino, whom Stevenson rates very highly.
“I think we should evaluate his performance in the fight against Nakatani, with whom Teofimo Lopez spent all 12 rounds in the ring, and there, if I’m not mistaken, there was a disagreement between the judges (wrong, approx. vRINGe). Then he (Nakatani) fought Lomachenko and was stopped at the end of the fight, recalls Shakur. – And then Nakatani fought Yoshino, and Yoshino stopped him faster than anyone else (in the 6th round, approx. vRINGe). And he really knocked him out, so we know he has power. And we also know that he is a tough nut to crack.”
Recall that the WBC lightweight title belongs to the American Devin Haney, who is likely to fight the next fight against the Ukrainian Vasily Lomachenko.
Recently, Stevenson said that Lomachenko is decently limited in skills.